NDLEA intercepts UK-bound cannabis hidden in duvet at Lagos airport, arrests two

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a shipment of cannabis, also known as “Loud” concealed in a duvet and destined for the United Kingdom.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the consignment was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.

The statement revealed that two suspects-Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, linked to the consignment were immediately arrested following the discovery by NDLEA officers.

“Six parcels of the psychoactive substance with a gross weight of 3.50 kilograms were concealed inside the duvet,” the statement partly read.

“In his statement, Austin Balogun who is the main agent who hired Adakole, claimed he was paid N700,000 to cargo the consignment to the UK but spent a fraction of the money on export handling charges and the bulk to pay for an apartment,” the statement added.

Babafemi added that a raid in the Ikorodu area of Lagos led to the discovery of a hideout where “skuchies” and weapons were recovered.

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He wrote, “At least, two suspects-Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun-were arrested at Igbo Olomu, Ikorodu area of Lagos when NDLEA operatives raided their hideout in the community where seven litres of skuchies, a new psychoactive substance produced with black currant, cannabis and opioids, were recovered.

“Other exhibits seized from the duo include: three locally-made double barrel riffles; one locally-made double barrel pistol; one English made pistol; one locally-made single barrel rifle; three cartridges and one empty 9mm cartridge as well as an iron – head axe.”

Meanwhile, another raid in the Akala area of Mushin in Lagos on January 19, reportedly led to the seizure of 47kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, and 25.46kg Nitrous Oxide popularly known as laughing gas.

The operations reportedly extended beyond Lagos, as a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, was caught and arrested on January 23 in Ekiti State with 1.950kg of Canadian Loud, while Auwal Sani was nabbed on January 20 in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State when 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 36.56kg were seized from him.

The statement added, “A Nigerien, Abubakar Lami, 45, with two others: Abba Sani, 35, and Auwal Aliyu, 32, were arrested by NDLEA operatives at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano, while 13.1kg skunk and 125 litres of ‘suck and die’, a new psychoactive substance, was recovered from them.

“In Gefen Kasa, Dawakin Kudu council area of Kano State, a cannabis plantation was located and destroyed by a team of NDLEA officers who arrested a suspect, Sabo Ali Muhammad, 45, linked to the farm.”

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.) reportedly commended the officers involved in the operations and emphasized the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and promoting drug abuse prevention.